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Original

Chinese Fishermen's Expectations on Medications

, M.B.B.S., M.Fam.Med., F.R.A.C.G.P., Ph.D.
Pages 85-96 | Published online: 03 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the expectations on medications of Chinese fishermen, a group of culturally distinct people, when they consult their family doctors. A qualitative method of semistructured focus group interviews was used for data collection. Twenty-nine participants took part in eight focus group interviews. They were all from the southern district of Hong Kong Island where many of the residents have a fishing background. Their expectations of doctors’ willingness to give them medicines might originate from their previous experiences with traditional therapies. Although some would prefer the medicines to be potent while others like them not to be too strong, they all wanted the medicines to lead them to fast recovery. It is therefore important for their western-trained family doctors to be culturally sensitive to their expectations and, hence, make more effort in explaining the use and misuse of medicines.

Resumen

Este estudio se propone explorar las expectativas respecto a medicaciones, de los pescadores chinos un grupo de gente culturalmente diferente, cuando consultan a sus médicos de familia.

Para la recolección de datos se usó el método cualitativo del enfoque de grupo semiestructurado. En 8 entrevistas de enfoque de grupo participaron veintinueve personas. Todas ellas eran del distrito Sur de la isla de Hong Kong, donde muchos de sus residentes poseen antecedentes como pescadores. Sus expectativas acerca de los médicos que les recetaban medicamentos podian estar originadas en sus experiencias previas con terapias tradicionales.

Si bien algunos hubieran preferido que las medicinas fueran fuertes y potentes, mientras otros hubieran deseado que no fueran tan fuertes, todos deseaban que las medicinas le permitieran una rápida curación.

Es por lo tanto importante para los médicos de familia entrenados en Occidente el ser culturalmente sensibles a esas expectativas y por lo tanto, poner más esfuerzos en explicar el uso y mal uso de las medicinas.

Résumé

Cette étude vise à examiner ce qu’attendent les pêcheurs chinois de la médecine lorqu’ils consultent leur médecin de famille; ces pêcheurs représentent un groupe cuturellement bien distinct.

Pour constituer nos donnés nous avons utilisé une méthode qualificative d’entrevues de groupes semi-structurées. Vingt-neuf personnes ont pris part à huit entrevues. Tous les participants étaient du quartier sud de l’île de Hong Kong où de nombreux résidents sont issus de familles de pêcheurs.

Le fait qu’ils s’attendent à ce que leurs médecins veuillent leur donner des médicaments peut venir de leurs expériences de thérapies traditionnelles précédentes. Bien que certains préféreraient que les médicaments soient puissants et forts, tandis que d’autres ne les voulaient pas trop forts, tous sans exception souhaitaient que les médicaments les guérissent vite.

Il est donc important que ces médecins de famille, diplômés en occident, soient culturellement sensibles aux espérances de leurs malades et en conséquence, qu’ils prennent plus la peine d’expliquer les bons et les mauvais usages des médicaments.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tai Pong Lam

Dr. Tai Pong Lam, Associate Professor in Family Medicine at the University of Hong Kong. He studied medicine in Australia. He enjoys meeting people of all nationalities which explains why he loves family medicine as a career. He is interested in the application of qualitative methodology in family medicine/community health research.

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